Performers
Works by Mendelssohn, Verdi, Françaix, Klengel and others, as well as well-known Christmas classics
“It sniffles at the top and hums at the bottom,” was Antonín Dvořák’s rather unflattering remark about the cello. Ah, if only he could have heard this ensemble, his verdict would have been quite different. Perhaps something like this: “Cello? It can do absolutely anything – and 12 cellos can do even more!” Almost 55 years ago, the cello section of the Berlin Philharmonic came together for the first time without the rest of their colleagues from their world-famous orchestra, to take to the concert stage with only their own kind. Why would you need a whole orchestra when you can create entire musical worlds with 12 sets of four strings? Classical and avant-garde? A matter of honour! Jazz, tango, the Beatles, film music? Nothing would please us more! With the necessary seriousness and just the right dose of humour and lightness, the 12 cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic are constantly exploring new and different paths. For Pro Arte, they’ve packed their programme full of Christmas spirit and, with Julius Klengel’s “Hymnus”, have also included the very piece that sparked the founding of this unique string ensemble back in 1972.
(Pro Arte Frankfurt)